“Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” James 14:17 NKJV
Dear friends, do you think you’ll get anywhere in this life if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, “Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!” and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?
We are specifically told in the Bible to help the needy, including widows, orphans, sick, hungry, unclothed, homeless. James, in the New Testament puts it bluntly, if you are not acting like God, taking care of the needs of others, where does that get you? Deuteronomy 15:11 ESV
For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore, I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’
Pastor Jeff Kane in Maury County, not only pastors Westminster Prepetition Church but almost single handedly runs Maury County Room in the Inn ministry. This Room in the Inn is a little different to what many churches participate in in the colder months, helping the homeless with a warm place to sleep for the night, dinner and breakfast before they go out again for the day. Pastor Kane, goes way beyond and helps homeless families find a place to stay, for sometimes months at a time, and helps them get back on their feet and back into society with their heads held high.
Founded in 2016, Room in the Inn Maury County has been working tirelessly to help those in need, helping over 700 people to date.
The mission statement is that Room in the Inn offers shelter and support to Maury County residents experiencing homelessness by providing programs that emphasize human development and recovery through education, and self-help and work centered in community and long-term support.
For the organization, there is a monthly cost of $10,000 to cover one room, and donations are the sole source of income currently.
The annual Oktoberfest event coming up at Riverwalk Park in Columbia is the largest fundraiser of the year. Obtaining grant funding would be something the organization could greatly benefit from, but grants are hard to get, and that means relying on donations from the community is the only way to survive. Yet, since 2016 they have been helping those who needed a hand up.
A resident manager says, “When people come to us, we will give them a food bag, breakfast items and snacks because most of the time they come to us hungry. We have people who have jobs, a car, a phone – everyday normal people. But then they get evicted after missing their monthly rent thinking they’ll get to stay, and then they’re left with nothing. We take them in until they get back on their feet. You could not ask for people better; they are so loving and generous with so much faith. They’ve done wonders for everyone who stays here and works to better their life, there have been ups and downs, but I’ve enjoyed it. We have had some who were not suitable for the place, and we do what we can for them and then try to find other resources for them. Overall, Room in the Inn has been a success.”
Some of those assisted are individuals while other rooms are filled with families. Room in the Inn Maury County’s goal is to make sure those residents are taken care of while they also continue to work on helping themselves. It is about feeding their spirit as well as their body, to help them have faith and confidence again.
More people, working people, are getting left out in the cold by landlords, many times with their children. Pastor Kane, a quiet, gentle man, has done and is still doing a great service, fulfilling this great task Jesus has given us all to the best of his ability. He can use help and donations. Join him at Oktoberfest!
Michael Carnes, Executive Producer – Palette Productions
